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Queen's Awards: the big winners

by Matthew Rock - Tuesday, 22nd April 2008 -

Queen's Awards: the big winners

This year, more awards than ever were given out, for international trade, innovation and sustainable development. One of the big winners: a former Real Business "Company of the Year.

Online gaming company Betfair is one of the big winners in this year's Queen's Awards for International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Develoment.

In their 43rd year, the awards also recognise individuals for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) for inspiring efforts to encourage UK entrepreneurship.

Betfair, established by city traders turned entrepreneurs Ed Wray (pictured) and Andrew Black in 1999, is now the world's largest online betting exchange, with licences in Australia, Malta, Austria and Germany. The company is a two-time winner of the "Company of the Year" gong at the Real Business/CBI Growing Business Awards.

Other notable winners at this year's Queen's Awards are:

Aqualisa, the top-notch shower maker, which won an Innovation award. CEO Harry Rawlinson said: "The award was for our development of Digital electronic showering products. Of these we sell about £1.25m-worth every month at a very respectable profit. We are also about to start exporting it to a number of territories round the world. So much for the death of British manufacturing!"

Real Business was also delighted to spot Gripple among the International Trade winners. The South Yorkshire Wire company, which makes joining and tensioning devices for use in agricultural and construction industries, featured in our first ever edition in March 1997.

We should have put a bet on it!

For a full listing of Queen's Award winners, click here.

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